Bodhirājakumārasutta

Majjhima Nikāya 85

With Prince Bodhi · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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as + instructedYathānusiṭṭhaṁ accordinglytathā back·practicingpaṭipajjamānā before long for the sake of whichnacirasseva—yassatthāya clan·sonskulaputtā rightly·indeedsammadeva from homeagārasmā without·homeanagāriyaṁ go forthpabbajanti, that supreme culmination of the holy lifetadanuttaraṁ—brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ seen + verydiṭṭheva in the dhammadhamme oneselfsayaṁ direct·knowledgeabhiññā with one's own eyes·having donesacchikatvā near·having reachedupasampajja you will dwellviharissathā’ti.
third + tooTatiyampi indeedkho, princerājakumāra, five·grouppañcavaggiyā bhikkhusbhikkhū memaṁ said thisetadavocuṁ:
by that conduct too‘tāyapi indeedkho youtvaṁ, friendāvuso Gotamagotama, by that conductiriyāya by thattāya by that practicepaṭipadāya by thattāya difficult·workdukkarakārikāya not + attainednājjhagamā beyonduttari human·statesmanussadhammā the noble distinction of knowledge and visionalamariyañāṇadassanavisesaṁ; whatkiṁ thenpana youtvaṁ nowetarahi indulging in abundancebāhulliko exertion·having given uppadhānavibbhanto turned backāvatto to abundancebāhullāya will you attainadhigamissasi beyonduttari human·statesmanussadhammā the noble distinction of knowledge and visionalamariyañāṇadassanavisesan’ti?

But for a third time they said to me, ‘Reverend Gotama … you’ve fallen into indulgence.’

thusEvaṁ when this was saidvutte, Iahaṁ, king·princerājakumāra, five·grouppañcavaggiye monksbhikkhū this + saidetadavocaṁ:
do you remember‘abhijānātha by meme notno youtumhe, mendicantsbhikkhave, beforeito previouslypubbe just·formevarūpaṁ spoken by me before?pabhāvitametan’ti?
No‘No indeed + thishetaṁ, sirbhante’.
the Perfected One‘Arahaṁ, mendicantsbhikkhave, thus·gonetathāgato rightly·awakenedsammāsambuddho.
lendOdahatha, mendicantsbhikkhave, earsotaṁ. deathless + achievedAmatamadhigataṁ I + instructahamanusāsāmi, Iahaṁ the Dhammadhammaṁ I teachdesemi.
as + instructedYathānusiṭṭhaṁ thustathā toward·practicingpaṭipajjamānā not·soon·which + for the sakenacirasseva—yassatthāya family·sonskulaputtā right·indeedsammadeva from the lay lifeagārasmā not·houseanagāriyaṁ they go forthpabbajanti, that·supreme·divine·conduct·culminationtadanuttaraṁ—brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ seen·justdiṭṭheva in the Dhammadhamme with your own insightsayaṁ higher·knowledgeabhiññā with one's own eyes·madesacchikatvā up to·attainedupasampajja you will liveviharissathā’ti.

So I said to them, ‘Mendicants, have you ever known me to speak like this before?’ ‘No, sir.’ ‘The Realized One is Perfected, a fully awakened Buddha. Listen up, mendicants: I have achieved freedom from death! I shall instruct you, I will teach you the Dhamma. By practicing as instructed you will soon realize the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life. You will live having achieved with your own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.’

not·be ableAsakkhiṁ indeedkho Iahaṁ, king·princerājakumāra, five·grouppañcavaggiye beg·mendicantbhikkhū to persuadesaññāpetuṁ.
two·alsoDvepi thensudaṁ, king·princerājakumāra, beg·mendicantbhikkhū I advisedovadāmi. threeTayo beg·mendicantbhikkhū for almspiṇḍāya they wentcaranti.
whatYaṁ threetayo beg·mendicantbhikkhū for almspiṇḍāya having gonecaritvā to·carryāharanti, with thattena six·group·groupchabbaggiyā we livedyāpema.
three·alsoTayopi thensudaṁ, king·princerājakumāra, beg·mendicantbhikkhū I advisedovadāmi, twodve beg·mendicantbhikkhū for almspiṇḍāya they wentcaranti.
whatYaṁ twodve beg·mendicantbhikkhū for almspiṇḍāya having gonecaritvā to·carryāharanti with thattena six·group·groupchabbaggiyā we livedyāpema.

I was able to persuade the group of five mendicants. Then sometimes I advised two mendicants, while the other three went for alms. Then those three would feed all six of us with what they brought back. Sometimes I advised three mendicants, while the other two went for alms. Then those two would feed all six of us with what they brought back.

thenAtha indeedkho, princerājakumāra, five·grouppañcavaggiyā mendicantsbhikkhū by memayā thusevaṁ ad-·instructovadiyamānā thusevaṁ along·instructanusāsiyamānā before longnacirasseva—yassatthāya clan·sonkulaputtā right·justsammadeva from homeagārasmā not·home lifeanagāriyaṁ they go forthpabbajanti, that + supreme culminationtadanuttaraṁ—brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ seen·justdiṭṭheva in the dhammadhamme themselvessayaṁ higher·knowabhiññā having realizedsacchikatvā to·attainupasampajja they livedvihariṁsū”ti.

As the group of five mendicants were being advised and instructed by me like this, they soon realized the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life. They lived having achieved with their own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.”

thusEvaṁ when saidvutte, Bodhibodhi king·boyrājakumāro to the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ this·saidetadavoca:
how“kīva longcirena nownu indeedkho, sirbhante, a mendicantbhikkhu thus·gonetathāgataṁ apart·leadervināyakaṁ obtain + for whose sakelabhamāno—yassatthāya clan·sonskulaputtā rightlysammadeva from homeagārasmā not·homeanagāriyaṁ forth·go·gopabbajanti, that·unsurpassed + culmination of the spiritual pathtadanuttaraṁ—brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ in this very lifediṭṭheva in the dhammadhamme oneselfsayaṁ higher·knowabhiññā with one's own eyes·having donesacchikatvā up·attainupasampajja would dwellvihareyyā”ti?
by that“Tena thenhi, king·boyrājakumāra, that·very·heretaṁyevettha back·askpaṭipucchissāmi. asYathā to youte it would be fittingkhameyya, sotathā itnaṁ out·dobyākareyyāsi.
thatTaṁ whatkiṁ do you thinkmaññasi, king·boyrājakumāra,
skilledkusalo are youtvaṁ elephant·mountedhatthārūḷhe goad·graspingaṅkusagayhe in the artsippe”ti?
yes“Evaṁ, sirbhante, skilledkusalo I amahaṁ elephant·mountedhatthārūḷhe goad·graspingaṅkusagayhe in the artsippe”ti.

When he had spoken, Prince Bodhi said to the Buddha, “Sir, when a mendicant has the Realized One as trainer, how long would it take for them to realize the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life?” “Well then, prince, I’ll ask you about this in return, and you can answer as you like. What do you think, prince? Are you skilled in the art of wielding a hooked goad while riding an elephant?” “Yes, sir.”

that“Taṁ whatkiṁ you thinkmaññasi, princerājakumāra,
hereidha a manpuriso might comeāgaccheyya:
Bodhi‘bodhi Princerājakumāro elephant·mountedhatthārūḷhaṁ goad·graspingaṅkusagayhaṁ the artsippaṁ knowsjānāti;
under him Itassāhaṁ in the presencesantike elephant·mountedhatthārūḷhaṁ goad·graspingaṅkusagayhaṁ the artsippaṁ I will trainsikkhissāmī’ti.
heSo and if he becassa faithlessassaddho;
as much asyāvatakaṁ with faithsaddhena to be attainedpattabbaṁ thattaṁ notna would attainsampāpuṇeyya.
heSo and if he becassa unhealthybahvābādho;
as much asyāvatakaṁ with good healthappābādhena to be attainedpattabbaṁ thattaṁ notna would attainsampāpuṇeyya.
heSo and if he becassa devioussaṭho deceitfulmāyāvī;
as much asyāvatakaṁ with honestyasaṭhena not·deceitfulamāyāvinā to be attainedpattabbaṁ thattaṁ notna would attainsampāpuṇeyya.
heSo and if he becassa lazykusīto;
as much asyāvatakaṁ with energyāraddhavīriyena to be attainedpattabbaṁ thattaṁ notna would attainsampāpuṇeyya.
heSo and if he becassa stupidduppañño;
as much asyāvatakaṁ with wisdompaññavatā to be attainedpattabbaṁ thattaṁ notna would attainsampāpuṇeyya.
thatTaṁ whatkiṁ you thinkmaññasi, princerājakumāra,
thenapi indeednu thatso manpuriso yourtava in the presencesantike elephant·mountedhatthārūḷhaṁ goad·graspingaṅkusagayhaṁ the artsippaṁ could trainsikkheyyā”ti?
with even one each“Ekamekenāpi, sirbhante, with a factoraṅgena endowedsamannāgato thatso manpuriso notna mymama in the presencesantike elephant·mountedhatthārūḷhaṁ goad·graspingaṅkusagayhaṁ the artsippaṁ could trainsikkheyya, whatko thenpana talkvādo with all five factorspañcahaṅgehī”ti.

“What do you think, prince? Suppose a man were to come along thinking, ‘Prince Bodhi knows the art of wielding a hooked goad while riding an elephant. I’ll train in that art under him.’ If he’s faithless, he wouldn’t achieve what he could with faith. If he’s unhealthy, he wouldn’t achieve what he could with good health. If he’s devious or deceitful, he wouldn’t achieve what he could with honesty and integrity. If he’s lazy, he wouldn’t achieve what he could with energy. If he’s stupid, he wouldn’t achieve what he could with wisdom. What do you think, prince? Could that man still train under you in the art of wielding a hooked goad while riding an elephant?” “Sir, if he had even a single one of these factors he couldn’t train under me, let alone all five.”

that“Taṁ whatkiṁ you thinkmaññasi, princerājakumāra,
hereidha a manpuriso might comeāgaccheyya:
Prince Bodhi‘bodhi Prince Bodhirājakumāro while riding an elephanthatthārūḷhaṁ goad·graspingaṅkusagayhaṁ artsippaṁ knowsjānāti;
in his presence Itassāhaṁ in the presencesantike while riding an elephanthatthārūḷhaṁ goad·graspingaṅkusagayhaṁ artsippaṁ I will trainsikkhissāmī’ti.
heSo and if he iscassa faithfulsaddho;
as much asyāvatakaṁ with faithsaddhena to be achievedpattabbaṁ thattaṁ he would achievesampāpuṇeyya.
heSo and if he iscassa healthyappābādho;
as much asyāvatakaṁ with good healthappābādhena to be achievedpattabbaṁ thattaṁ he would achievesampāpuṇeyya.
heSo and if he iscassa honestasaṭho with integrityamāyāvī;
as much asyāvatakaṁ with honestyasaṭhena not·deceitfulamāyāvinā to be achievedpattabbaṁ thattaṁ he would achievesampāpuṇeyya.
heSo and if he iscassa energeticāraddhavīriyo;
as much asyāvatakaṁ with energyāraddhavīriyena to be achievedpattabbaṁ thattaṁ he would achievesampāpuṇeyya.
heSo and if he iscassa wisepaññavā;
as much asyāvatakaṁ with wisdompaññavatā to be achievedpattabbaṁ thattaṁ he would achievesampāpuṇeyya.
thatTaṁ whatkiṁ you thinkmaññasi, princerājakumāra,
couldapi stillnu thatso manpuriso under youtava in the presencesantike while riding an elephanthatthārūḷhaṁ goad·graspingaṅkusagayhaṁ artsippaṁ would trainsikkheyyā”ti?
with even a single one“Ekamekenāpi, sirbhante, with a factoraṅgena endowedsamannāgato thatso manpuriso under memama in the presencesantike while riding an elephanthatthārūḷhaṁ goad·graspingaṅkusagayhaṁ artsippaṁ he could trainsikkheyya, whatko thenpana talkvādo with five factorspañcahaṅgehī”ti.

“What do you think, prince? Suppose a man were to come along thinking, ‘Prince Bodhi knows the art of wielding a hooked goad while riding an elephant. I’ll train in that art under him.’ If he’s faithful, he’d achieve what he could with faith. If he’s healthy, he’d achieve what he could with good health. If he’s honest and has integrity, he’d achieve what he could with honesty and integrity. If he’s energetic, he’d achieve what he could with energy. If he’s wise, he’d achieve what he could with wisdom. What do you think, prince? Could that man still train under you in the art of wielding a hooked goad while riding an elephant?” “Sir, if he had even a single one of these factors he could train under me, let alone all five.”

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